Flashback Friday — Bar None

Flashback 40 years to December 1973 … because, well, this one is too good to pass up.

Hey, bartender! Basil, 1973.

It’s Basil, who had just turned 18, working a holiday party at his parents’ restaurant, The 19th Hole (which is still in business in Stamford under different ownership). They had the restaurant for four years, from ’72 to ’76, and hosted these parties every year.

Basil found this Polaroid recently at his mother’s house. It’s a shame that it’s starting to deteriorate.

Where to begin? The sideburns? Hair long enough to irritate my mother-in-law (family legend is that she stole into his room at night trying to cut it as he slept)? The expression I’ve seen oh too many times. …

Basil says these parties were huge affairs — ~100 family and friends packed into the place, full of good cheer poured by the guy with the chest hair.

He remembers them fondly: “It was a great bunch of people. The food was great. We had a good time.”

If you’re from around town and remember Basil from this era, or remember going to the restaurant back then, share your own flashback below.